WINNING A COUSIN;
OR, A SECRET OF FORTUNE TELIGNO-
BY A.W. NONEY.
CHAPTER I.
“There are more things in heaven and earth ‘Than are dreamt of in your philusophy.”
“Ox, Isabel, do fook «1 this besutifal bouquet!" exclaimed a gay young lady, running into the parlor where her cousin wan scated— suich a eweet little one! I wish Eknew who sent it to met
Some of your admirers, very likely,” returned the more ataid Isabel, “and you get ail the pretty presents,” she continued, affecting to pout at the idea, But the ‘other was too much engrossed with her bouquet to nolice this playful jealousy.
“This rove is, splendid !” said she, turning up the petals with her taper white fingers, and inhaling ite delicious fragrance—* isn't it perfectly lovely, coz? And how tastefully all ore arranged! Oh, I do wish I
- knew who sent it to me!”
Had Sareh Williams chanced to notice the embar- vaseed air of Isahel’s brother, who was sitting on tho sofa at the moment, to appearance particutarly engaged in studying the variegated figures of a Saxony carpet, she might have conjectured with her aex’s intuitive shrewdness sufficient for her own satisfaction on the subject, without having occasion to push the enquiry farther. But in the haste to show Isabel her flowers, she did not observe that there was sny other person in the room, and therefore continued in her extravagant admiration and expressions of wonder, with all the buoyant gaicty of a light and carelesa heart, and partly in the roguish design of teusing her amiable cousin with the tantalizing right.
“Ian’t it Deautiful 2” she continued, “emeli of it, dear, it is so fragrant!”
«T would not be in such an ecatucy with it, Sande,” usid Isabel, gravely pushing the bouquet to one side, «People will imagine you never had the present of a preity bunch of flowers before.”
“Nor have I ever received such @ lovely one, I am sure,” she returned gaily—« why how curiously it i “made up! It must be a love-letier, certainly! Now if, T oniy knew the language of flowers! How provoking! Tan't it, coz 1”
“Yes, But perhaps Frederick will read it to you,” replied Isabel, “he understands their language.”
“Oh, do, cousin Frederick, if you please,” she ox claimed, turning suddenly around, causing him to start, up and stammer—" yes—no~I don’t wulerstend—that
is*—_ “Qh, don't ba frightenod, wir, suid she, bursting into Vou, 18
OF FASHION
37 | @ laugh at his confusion, it won't bite you! Did you never hear of a young lady's receiving a fowery love- Jetter before 2” -
« Yes, certainly-I have,” he answered, recovering his fuculties, “I only meant to say that [ do know the meaning of sone flowers; but I would not presume to read a young lady's correspondence.”
“Suppose she caunot read it Lerrelf, ax T have heard ‘of being the case with even vulgar foolseap blotted with ink, and she wishes you {o read it to her; you would not be so ungallant as to refuse ?””
“By no means; especially when my pretly cousin asks me,” said he, smiling as a slight blush rose on her cheek at the last sentence,
«Well, then, Mr. Flatterer, what does this one say 7” she asked with affected scriousness, turning out. the leaves of a beautiful little tulip.
- Tlave you™.
« What do you say, sii
“It iutimates @ declaration of love, Saade,” interposed Isabel, knowing that her brother meant more than his manner indicated.
“Ob, I knew that before,” said she, wilt haughty toas of her head.
“Nay, then, Miss Pertness, you do not need my assistance,” returned Frederick, a little foarful be might unwisely betray himself before the proper period for a certain disclosure he had to mako.
“But the qulip is the only one that I know the meaning of, I assure you, and I had forgotten even that. So you will please to prococd; Que signifie lee auires ? as we say in New Orleans.”
“Taken as a whole, cousin, the bouquet declares a sooret, yet undying passion for you,” said the interpreter, bending his dark eyes upon her own with o thrilling expression, which eaused her to blush deeply, although she affected not to notice him. *
But flowers are embleiatical of a passion which, will soon decay, notwithstanding, Don't you think sot”
“They are like the heart’s deep and best feelings, which, if they ate not cherished must wither,” an- swered Frederick, with # suppressed sigh.
“You don't say #0! how melancholy, to be sure!” returned Sarak jeeringly, “ Butif the gentleman's love i as oweet as his message is fragrant, ho must be a dear little fellow.”
“And isn’t [ove ever swect? Remember how the poets describe the passion—¢ redolent with bliss’ —* per- fumed with sighs'—' honey-dew kisses’ ”—
“That's quite wulficient, sirs sweet enough in all conscience !””
«Sweets to the sweet, you know, cousin Saade.”
«Husb, you simpleton! Here, you shall have a rose to pay for your gallantry. But, do you remember,”
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